Corn popper



S. L. LONG CORN POPPER Dec. 15, 1931 Filed Aug. 5, 1930 9 25 i4 l5 l7iiiiiiilllllt .Low

Patented Dec. 15, 1931 PATENT OF ICE SIDNEY L. LONG, 01 MINNEAPOLIS,MINNESOTA Conn rorrnn.

The objects of this invention are to provide novel means for rotatingthe drum of a corn popper; to provide novel means for holding the cornin the drum during popping, and to provide a means for ejecting thepopped corn; and, generally, to improve and to enhance the utility ofdevices of that type to which the present invention appertains. 4 Apreferred form has been shown, but it will be understood that amechanic, working within the S00 e of the claims, can make changes inthe orm chosen as a material embodiment of the invention, withoutdeparting from the spirit.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is an elevation;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section;

Figure 3 is a longitudinal section, the combined rotator and ejectorhaving been retracted;

Figure 4 is a cross section on the line 4et of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a sectional detail showing how the drum is mounted on theframe for rotation and for sagging movement transversely of its axis ofrotation.

The device forming the subject matter of this application comprises aframe including a loop-shaped member 1, to one end of which is secured ahandle 2, the said end of the member 1 having stops 3. The framecomprises an annular guard 4 secured to the member 1, intermediate theends thereof.

A shaft 5 is mounted for rotation and for longitudinal sliding movementin the handle 2 and is provided at its outer end with a crank 6 orequivalent means whereby rotation may be imparted to the shaft. An innerdisk 11 and an outer disk 12 are secured to the shaft 5 in spacedrelation. The disks 11 and 12 preferably are made of metal having someresiliency.

A drum 7 of any desired shape is mounted on the frame for rotation. Thedrum 7 preferably comprises a foraminous cylindrical body 8 open at oneend, as shown at 10, the opposite end of the body of the drum beingclosed by a plate-like wall 9.

The numeral 25 designates a securing element having an enlarged neck 15forming a Application filed August 5, 1930. Serial No. 473,185.

shoulder 16, the neck 15 carrying a head 14, a nut 17 being threaded onthe securing element 25.

The securing element- 25 passes through the end wall 9 of the drum 7 andthe end wall is 5 bound between the nut 17 and the shoulder 16. The head14 is located outside of the end member of the frame, and the neck 15 ofthe securing element is mounted to turn in the said end memberof theframe. The neck 15 is mounted somewhat loosely in the end of the member1 of the frame, and consequently the drum 7 has a sagging movementtransversely of its axis, that axis being represented by the shaft 5. Awasher 18 is located about the neck 15 of the securing element 25,between the end wall 9 of the drum 7 and the adjacent end portion of themember 1 of the frame, as will be understood readily when Figure5 of thedrawings is noted.

In practical operation, the disks 11 and 12 are disposed within the drum7, as shown in Figure 2, the corn which is to be popped being located inthe drum, between the disks. 7 It is to be observed that when the partsare arranged as shown in Figure 2, the outer disk 12 acts asa closurefor the open end 10 of the drum and retains thercorn in the drum.

The device is held, over the source of heat, in a position approximatingthe horizontal, and because the neck 15 of the securing element 25 ismounted loosely in the outer end of the part 1 of the frame. the drum 7can sag a little. that is, swing transversely of its axis of rotation:and because the drum can sag as aforesaid. it will have frictionalengagement with the disks 11 and 12, at theiriedges, or with. one of thedisks at least. The disks 11 and 12 are secured to the shaft 5, and whenthe shaft 5 is rotated by means of the crank 6. as the device is heldover the fire by means of the handle 2, the disks will be rotated, thedisks imparting rotation to the drum 7, there by to agitate the cornwhich is being popped. U

After the corn has been popped,;longitudinal movement is imparted to theshaft 5, the disks 11 and 12 being retracted until the disk 12 engagesthe stops 3, as shown in Figure 3. During the operation last abovedescribed, the

inner disk 11 acts as a rake or ejector, which removes the popped cornfrom the drum 7 \Vhen the parts are arranged as shown in Figure 3, thespace between the inner disk 11 and the outer end 10 of the drum 7 formsa measuring receptacle, and if this receptacle is filled with unpoppedcorn, the operator may be assured that he has the right amount of cornfor popping when the parts are restored to the condition of Figure 2,there being no chance that the popper'will go over the fire.

laden with a charge of corn that will be too scant on the one hand, orovercharge the drum 7 on the other hand.

The part 4 is called a guard because it extends around the open end.10-of the body 8 of thedrum and prevents thebody from being distorted byaccidental blows, or otherwise. If the mounting. of thedruin at 15 inthe end of the frame member 1 is loose enough so that the end 10--of thebody 8 can touch the guard 4, then the guard keeps the body centeredwith suflicientaccuracy so that the. outer disk 12 can enter thebody 8of the drum when the disk 12 is moved from the position of Figure 3 tothe position of Figure 2. The disk 12 can enter the body 8 of the drumreadily, not only because the body of the drum is loosely mounted at 15.but also because the disk 12, like the disk 11', has some resiliency.All parts of the device, with the exception of the handle 2 preferablyare made of metal, the handle 2 being constructed of some material whichis a poor conductor of heat.

Attention is directed to: the showing of Figures2 and 3, which make itmanifest that the popper can be charged with corn and be clearedofpopped corn without burning the hands of the operator, it beingnecessary merely to reciprocate the disks 11 and 12 through. theinstrumentality of the sl-idably mounted shaft 5, which has a doublefunction, in that it forms both a part of the rotating means for thedrum 7 and a part of the eject- Y inst means for the popped corn.

What is claimed is: l r

1. In a corn popper, a drum, means for supporting the drum for rotation;and mechanism for rotating the drum, said mechanism comprising spaced,inner and outer disks at least one of which has frictional engagementwithin the drum, means for rotating said disks, and for moving the diskslongitudinally of the drum, one disk moving within the drum to form acorn ejector, and the other disk being movable into and out of one endof the drum to form a closure for the drum.

2'. In a corn popper, a frame, a handle carried by the frame, a shaftjou'rnaled in the handle, means for rotating the shaft, a drum supportedfor rotation in the frame, and spaced disks on the shaft within thedrum, the shaft having longitudinal movement in the handle, whereby onedisk will act as a corn ejector and the other disk will act as a drumclosure, one disk engaging the interior of the drum to impart rotationto the drum.

3. In a corn popper, a drum supported for rotation, a shaft supportedfor rotation andfor longitudinal sliding movement, disks on the shaftand located in the drum, and means for stopping the longitudinal slidingmovement of the shaft with one disk in the drum: and one disk. out ofthe drum, one disk having frictional engagement with the drum to impartrotation to the drum.

4. In a corn popper, a drum, cooperating elements, comprising spacedejector and closure membersmovable longitudinally of the drum, one of!said: cooperating, elements having engagement. with. the drum, and meansfor moving the ejector and. closure members longitudinally-of. the drum,and for, rotating them, to impart rotation toithe drum.

In testimonuthat I claim the foregoing as my own,, have hereto afiixedmyusignature.

SIDNEY. L. LONG.

